Hydraulic turbine



May 16, 1950 c. R. MARTIN HYDRAULIC TURBINE Original Filed May 8, 1944 Patented May 16, 1950 HYDRAULIC TURBINE Charles R. Martin, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Allis-Chalmers`Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee; Wis, a corporation of Delaware 534,677; Divided and this application July 20, 19.43, `s,i'ia1 1\m,`ll =39,811

The present invention relates generallyftzfimprovements in hydraulil turbines and relates more particularly to hydrauli'cJ turbines 'provided with draft tubes, Land the principal object of the invention is to improve'the operation of such turbinesand draft tubes.` This application is a division of my application Ser. N 534,677; filed May 8,1944, now pabandonedj i -It is a known fact that'water contains dissolved and entrained gases'in-Varying amounts dependent on the pressure and temperature'of: the water and surrounding atmosphereas'well as the jaccumulation of disso'lved solidsetherein." Furthermore, water fiowing as a stream-is generally sufficiently agitated to causeH air entrainmen't, 'and undissolved solids which may vbe`-'carr'i`ed ``by `k'the watermay likewise'release gases which' are dissolved or entrained' by `'the "water; As 'long :as the stream continues to flow in its normal `course,

the water retains 'the gaseous content'but when such water is subjected to' a change' froma-relatively high pressure to alsubstantiallylower pres-` through the turbinefrunner under` pressure and* is discharged into the draftl tube where'a state of vacuum existsf the reaction typeis subjected to centrifugal force,

the natural tendency .of the water flow is to' pro-1 duce a Vortex in the draft tube,x`and the'liberated gases are' thereby'collected in the low pressure area below the runner hub. vIn addition to the Vortex formed by theiwhirling water :as 'it is discharged from, the turbine runner, there is no discharge. of water" in' the` region immediately belowpthe runnerhub in' a propeller turbine due tozthe space occupied by the hub and only a slight discharge from the'central runner Vane portion of a Francis type turbine.` 'Therefore, sincerthere is apressure' at the; inlet side of the turbine runner above atmospheric pressure. dependent on the head of the reserv'oir and" there is a partial Vacuum below `the runner, the gasesdissolved and entrained in the` .water are liberated'upon passage through the runner from 'high to low pressure areas, and 'the libera'ted gases` collect in the central `portion ofthe draft tube to produce a gas bubble of material' area extending a subst'antialfdistance*into thedraft tube. l Collection of these"'release`d gases continues 'to occupy` i: 6 creme.: i (cl. 258-81) friction of the water in the Vortex causes collapse of the gas bubble and carries the gases out of the draft tube, after which a new bubble forms. This collection and collapse of the gas bubble occurs in a recurring "cycle at a frequency .de-` pendent on the gas content of the waterand the rate vof water now through the turbine. V

Observation of turbineoperation leads to the conclusion that the recurringcycle'v of bubble collection and collapse causes a corresponding cycle of Variations in the output of 'thefturbine due to the fact that the gas bubble collection restricts the available area for water discharge in the draft tube and collapse of the bubble removes this restriction. i The bubble collection and collapse cycle is also 'believed to produce' a considerable amount of Vibration disturbing the normal operation 'of a hydraulic turbine. Analysis ofliberated gases extracted from the dra'ft tube below and adjvacent the runner ofa turbine shows that such liberated gas'es consist of a mixture considerablyricher in Oxygen than ordinary tion'to provide means associatedwith a hydraulic a z Since thewater discharged f1'o1naturbine-`of runner.

turbine which will stabilize` the fiow'of water throughthe turbine by equalizing the pressure acrossthe entire area' of the turbine draft tube.V

Another object of this invention is to provide means for stabilizing and'incre'asin'g the power output' of a hydraulic turbine by making the entire area of the draft tube continuously available 4for discharge of water from` the turbine Another object of this invention is to reduce the vibration and hammering action which occurs in hydraulic turbines by preventing the formation and collapselo-fvoids in the draft tube which afiect 'the .operation of the turbine runner.

Another object of this invention is' to provide means for reducing caVitation and pitting of turbine parts and for improving the efilciency of hydraulic'turbines by'minimizing the'effect gases. i 1

lAnother object of thepresent inventiorl` is'to' proVide means cooperating with the runner of ;zza hdraulic turbine to equalize' the distribution an increasing'* space in=thedraft` tubeJ until-the of water through the turbine runner, thereby decreasing the `'possibility' of Vaporization and consequentrelease ofoxygen and` other 'gase's resulting when the water is permitted to approach spouting Velocity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic turbine with means for removing the central core of iiuent medium from below the turbine runner.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved runner for a hydraulic turbine which is simple in construction, econoinical to manufacture, and highly efficient in operation, and which furthermore tends .to equalize the Velocity of water as it passes therethrough thereby enabling greater turbine output.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the present improvement and of the mode of constructing and utilizing devices built in accordance with the invention vmay be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a Vertical sectional view diagrammatically illustrating a portion of a hydraulic turbine of Vthe reaction type provided with means mounted directly on the turbine runner for producing a fiow or jet of water through the center of the draft tube to prevent the accumulation of liberated gases therein;

Fig. 2 is a'horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 3 to further trate the means shown in Fig. 1-;

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional View of a portion of a hydraulic turbine in which means for producing a jet, employing hydraulic pressure, is mounted in the draft tube below and adjacent the runner of a hydraulic turbine to prevent the accumulation of liberated gases in the draft tube;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional View taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 to further illustrate the structure of the hydraulic jet means shownin Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a Vertical sectional view of a portion of a hydraulic turbine illustrating means mounted in the draft tube and immediately driven by the runner for causing water fiow through the center of the draft tube for forcing liberat'ed i gases therefrom.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral designates the usual movable vanes. forming the gate for controlling and directing the flow of Water to a hydraulic turbine of the reaction type. A reaction turbine runner herein shown for the sake of simplicity as being of the fixed vane propeller type comprises a hub |2 and vanes [3 suspended from a shaft I 4 and this runner receives the fiow of water under pressure through the gate vanes II. The water passing through the runner is discharged into ardraft tube |6 which may be constructed in any one of several known ways. The turbine runner is under the pressure of a full head of water above the runner vanes |3 and the bottom of the runner is under a vacuum' produced by the draft tube 16. The water discharging from the runner l2, i3 forms a Vortex in which a substantially annular body of water is whirled to some extent into contact with the walls of the draft tube HS at relatively high pressure, approaching and often reaching spouting Velocity, and with a portion of the draft tube within the annulus at a Very low relative pressure. Such low pressure area in the draft tube is approximately equal in diameter to the runner hub |2 and extends downwardly illus- Vbelow the runner.

from beneath the hub a considerable distance into the draft tube IG. .As the whirling water reaches spouting Velocity, it tends to vaporize and Oxygen is thereby released, and the gases dissolved and entrained'in the water are likewise liberated upon passage to the low pressure area These gases are normally forced to the low pressure area in the draft tube and tend to form a gas bubble on the runner hub as heretofore described.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the desired result may be obtained through the use of the embodiinent there illustrat'ed, for forcing released gases to pass out of the draft tube continuously and without allowing the collection of any material quantity of gases therein. Such continuous discharge of gases may be produced by an impeller comprisin'g arring 23 mounted on the runner hub |2 and provided with'vanes 24 of such length, angle and curvature as to produce a desired fiow or jet of water into the central portion of the draft tube IS. The length, angle and curvature of the impeller vanes are such as to produce only a sufficient water flow to the center of the draft tube as to secure re-entrainment therewith of the released gases, thereby minimizing the necessary size and weight of the impeller and the amount of power required from the turbine runner for driving the same. Tests have shown that re-entrainment of the gases can be obtained with impellers of various sizes and that such re-entrainment substantially eliminates the power Variation and vibration of the turbinerbelieved to be due to the repeated formation and collapse of gas bubbles adjacent the runner. Preventing formation of an extensive gas bubble eliminates the abnormal Oxygen concentration which tests have shown amounts to over 22% of the gas mixture and which increases corrosion and pitting of turbine parts.l Furthermore, prevention of bubble formation eliminates obstructions in the draft tube ifi thereby providing for more uniform flow through the turbine runner and consequently more equal pressures and fiows throughout the draft tube I 6 permitting greater discharge of Water through the runner and draft tube without reaching the vaporization point. More equal distribution of water and equalization of pressure through the turbine runner and the draft tube result in a highly eficient unit.

Fig. 5 shows a pro-peller form of impeller for producing the desired re-entrainment and discharge of gases through the draft tube with a reduced requirement for power as compared' to the form of impeller as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this embodiment,an internal ring gear V26 is mounted on the truncated turbine runner hub I 2 and a casing 21 is mounted in the draft tube 16 by means of suitable stays e. The impeller casing 21 is mounted closely adjacent to the ring gear 26 and provides a support for a plurality of gears 3| engaging the ring gear 26 and driven thereby. The impeller casing 21 is formed to provide a substantially conical passage from adjacent the bottom edge of the runner vanes i 3 to a point in the central portion of the draft tube |6 remote from the turbine runner. An impeller 32 shown as being of the propeller type is mounted in the lower portion ofV the impeller casing passage and a shaft 33 carrying the impeller 32 extends up through the casing and the gear supports and has mounted on the upper end thereof a gear 34 engaged with the gears 3| to drive the impeller 32 as the turbine runner rotates. The ratio of the several gears may be made to produce any desired speed `affdapted to be driven by water passing thereof the impeller 32 and are preferably made to uroduce:V :suchspeedas willrzcause' rapid ;flow`` of substantialfavolume through the-:leasing 2`l` and downainto ;the z central.-` portionfof the; draft tube lEa-;therebyzvequalizing the preSSuref-aml; fiow vof watenthrough-theturbinefrunner and draft tube. iRe-ientrainment and discharge of thereleased gases may alsozbe obtained without utilizingflpower from.theeturbineeitself 'sufiicient hydraulic head; is present to iprov'de jets off-water to'thexlow ressurezrfarea belownthe runner at a relatively high zvelocityzf` 'As shown'finf'Figs. 3 `andfi'i avsubstantially conicazcasingr'l -ismounted zbelowi and closelyfA adjaeent 'the .trunca'ted' hub 1' l 2-.: lit-The cone 31' is mounted centrallyjof thehdr'aft ltube ;Hi :on suta-blerstaysdfone'ofwhich is preferably hollow and is connected to a header or manifold 33 from the inside and adjacent to the upper edge of thecone 321.44 Water under ``suitable pressure is supplied to the header 39 either from areservoir, penstock, or a pump (not shown) driven by suitable means.` The header 39 is connected with a plurality of nozzles A0 extending downwardly to :the ,loweredge ofetheconefandzthus proyiding a plunality of jets ,converging `on-tandimerging l' 'vvith each otherz-:in .the.centr.al. portiom` of the: draft tube.: EGhe:several.jetsrefentrain:the gases and carry them down .to. .the central portionv` :of.` `;the draft tubebeyondthe .point wheresthe entire' area ofithe tubefisfilled with discharging water which. carries the re-entrained gases to the draft tube outlet. 'i

From the foregoing, it willvibe apparent that therpresent invention provides means tending to equalize vthezpressure in the-;drafttube below the turbine runner and across the entire diameter of such runner. Such means eifectively cause the flow of a portion of the water from the annulus of the Vortex down the center of the draft tube and furthermore cause continuous movement of the released gases from adjacent the runner. Removal. of the gases may be accomplished by the actual withdrawal thereof from the draft tube as such gases are liberated or may be accomplished by reentrainment of the liberated gases in an accelerated flow of water through the center of the draft tube. In all of the embodiments hercin illustrated and described, however, more cqual distribution of the water through the runner and the draft tube is effected, thereby equalizing the pressure in the draft tube and reduoing the possibility that the point of vaporization will be reached. The means disclosed herein for reducing the rate of liberation of the gases and for making the entire area of the draft tube effective for removing the fluent medium from below the runner has proven highly effective and economical, and power stabilization, increased efciency, reduction of vibration and practical elimination of cavitation and pitting have all been found to result from the means herein disclosed. A further advantage is that greater outputs may bo obtained for a given runner diameter and consequently a more economical setting of the turbine is possible.

From a consideration of the princples of the present invention and the illustrated ernbodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a hydraulic turbine: a turbine runner through, said runner comprising Vanes extendngziaterally fromra 'central hubiof :theytipeiplfe-` ventingi fiuid flowl therethrough; a draft-tube'into whichaawater from'saidzturbine runner is directly dischargeablesaidfrunnertbeing such that ro- ;g tationthereof'iresults in alower centrifugal'presof a fluidpump-;locatedfinisaid centralzone clowns stream-.of said runner and-comprising ang impeller 'frotat'able about the i axisi of saidf central '1 zone;` said-.impellershavingzigenerally radially extending'vanespitched to projecta fluid jet downstream'z inasaidz-draft tube when-said impeller isrotat'ed'inzaf;predetermined direction; and means ,v adaptedn-Tto 'be drlven by water passing therea terminal end;.-.ffa;fdraft'ztube into 'which water from-z 'said f turbine;` runner `is 'directly dischargeablep-saidg-runner being such that rotation'thereofzzresultsf in za lowe1'- centrifugalz pressure in` a central zone: in z-saidi--draftz tube thanrina zone i surroundingr-said central-:zona` said central zone extending-frorn :central portions-rof said vanes di-fV4 reotlyintosaididraft tube; 'and a fluid pump comprisingan impellerI emounted `fon .and coaXia-lwith said hub -z'portiony said-` impeller 'having generally radially' aextendi-ng vanesz-pitched to cause` fluid flow generally axially downstream along the outer surface of said hub portion.

3. In a hydraulic turbine: a turbine runner adapted to be driven by water passing therethrough, said runner comprising vanes extending laterally from a central hub; said hub having an imperforate conoidal portion extending downstream of said runner; a draft tube into which water from said turbine runner is directly dischargeable; said runner being such that rotation thereof results in a lower centrifugal pressure in a central zone in said draft tube than in a zone surrounding said central zone, said central zone extending axially from central portions of said vanes directly into said draft tube; and a fluid pump comprising an impeller mounted on and coaxial With said conoidal portion, said impeller having generally radially extending vanes pitched to cause fluid fiow generally axially downstream along the outer surface of said conoidal portion.

4. In a hydraulic turbine: a turbine runner adapted to be driven by water passing therethrough, said runner comprising Vanes extending laterally from a central hub; said hub having a surface merging smoothly with an imperforate portion extending downstream thereof to a terminal end; a draft tube into which water from said turbine runner is directly dischargeable; said runner being such that rotation thereof results in a lower centrifugal pressure in a central zone in said draft tube than in a zone surrounding said central zone, said central zone extending from centra1 portions of said vanes directly into said draft tube; flow increasing means for causing flow of water from the inlet side of said runner along the central portions of the runner vanes to the discharge side thereof wholly externally of and along said hub and hub portion into said central zone, said flow increasing means including flow inducing means located in said central zone below said runner and axially fixed relative to said draft tube, said flow inducing means being provided by a fluid jet positively projected wholly externally of said hub axially downstream into the central zone of said draft tube.

5. In a hydraulic turbine: a turbine runner adapted to be driven by water passing therethrough, said runner comprising water driven power producing vanes extending laterally from a central hub of the type preventing flow of fiuid therethrough; a draft tube into which water from said turbine runner is directly dischargeable; said runner being such that rotation thereof results in a lower centrifugal pressure in a central zone in said draft tube than in a zone surrounding said central zone, said central zone extending axially from central portions of said vanes directly into said draft tube; and fiuid pump means for positively projecting a fiuid jet downstream into the central zone of said draft tube, said fiuid pump means being disposed downstream of all of said power producing vanes and centrally located in said draft tube.

6. In a hydraulic turbine: a turbine runner adapted to be driven by water passing therethrough, said runner comprising water driven power producing vanes extending laterally from a central hub of the type preventing flow of fiuid therethrough; a draft tube into which water from said turbine runner is directly dischargeable; said runner being such that rotation thereof results ina lower centrifugal pressure in a, central zone in said draft tube than in a zone surrounding increasing means including fiow inducing means located in said central zone downstream of all of said power producing vanes, said iiow inducing means being provided by fiuid pump means for positively projecting a fiuid jet wholly externally of said hub axially downstream into the central zone of said draft tube.

CHARLES R. MARTIN.

REFEREN CES CITFD The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 1,516,822 McCormack Nov. 25, 1924 1,538,069 Taylor May 19, 1925 1,836,86O MOOdy Dec. 15, 1931 1,950,777 Biggs Mar. 13, 1934 2,079,258 Kerr May 4, 1937 2,182,974 Terry Dec. 12, 1939 2,300,748 Rheingans Nov. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 100,875 Austria Sept. 10, 1925 478,496 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1938 

